Bell Sidewinder

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title: "Bell Sidewinder" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1980s-united-states-ultralight-aircraft", "homebuilt-aircraft", "parasol-wing-aircraft", "single-engined-tractor-aircraft"] description: "American ultralight aircraft" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_Sidewinder" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American ultralight aircraft ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox aircraft"]

Field	Value
name	Sidewinder
aircraft_type	Ultralight aircraft
national_origin	United States
designer	Fred Bell
status	Production completed
developed_from	Phantom X1
::

| name = Sidewinder | logo = | logo_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Ultralight aircraft | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = United States | manufacturer = | design_group = | designer = Fred Bell | builder = | issuer = | status = Production completed | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = Phantom X1 | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = The Bell Sidewinder is an American ultralight aircraft, supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

Design and development

The Sidewinder is a copy of the Phantom X1 that was built by former Phantom Aeronautics employee Fred Bell. It was designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of 254 lb. The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 250 lb. It features a cable-braced high-wing, a single-seat, open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.

The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with the flying surfaces covered in Dacron sailcloth. The Sidewinder differs from the X1 in having flaps. Its 30 ft span wing is cable-braced from an inverted "V" kingpost mounted on top of the wing. The landing gear has suspension on all wheels and features a steerable nosewheel, plus main wheel brakes. The pilot is accommodated on an open seat, partially enclosed by a fibreglass fairing with a windshield. The standard engine provided was the Kawasaki TA 440A snowmobile powerplant of 37 hp.

Specifications (Sidewinder)

|ref=Cliche |prime units?=imp General characteristics

|genhide=

|crew=one |capacity= |length m= |length ft=16 |length in=6 |length note= |span m= |span ft=30 |span in=0 |span note= |height m= |height ft=7 |height in=10 |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft=154 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=250 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=500 |gross weight note= |fuel capacity=5 u.s.gal |more general= Powerplant

|eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Kawasaki TA 440A |eng1 type=Twin cylinder, two-stroke snowmobile engine, with a 2.3:1 belt reduction drive |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=37

|prop blade number=2 |prop name=wooden |prop dia m= |prop dia ft=4 |prop dia in=2 |prop note=

Performance

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh= |max speed mph=60 |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph=50 |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph=26 |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph=100 |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles= |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft=14500 |ceiling note= |g limits=+6/-4 (calculated) |roll rate= |glide ratio=7:1 |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=800 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin=490 |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft=3.25 |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics=

References

References

1. Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page E-33 and 37. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN. 0-9680628-1-4

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